PARTS OF A SENTENCE

Terms that describe how people build sentences from smaller parts

5 BASIC SENTENCE PATTERNS S-AV

subject – action verb S-AV-DO

subject – action verb – direct object S-AV-IO-DO

subject – action verb –indirect object – direct object S-LV-PN

subject – linking verb – predicate nominative S-LV-PA

subject – linking verb – predicate adjective

6 BASIC PARTS OF SENTENCES

Subjects

Predicates

Objects

Complements

Phrases

Clauses

SUBJECTS: 1. The complete subject includes the simple

subject and all of its modifiers.

2. Find the verb first, then ask Who? or

What? is doing the action.

3. The simple subject is a noun or a pronoun.

4. The simple subject is NEVER the object of

the prepositional phrase.

5. With imperative sentences, the

understood subject is the pronoun you.

PREDICATES: 1. A predicate consists of a verb and all

the words governed by the verb or

modifying it.

2. To find the verb, ask yourself, "What

is the action?" or "What is being done

here?"

3. The verb is the simple predicate. It is

one word, the main verb of the verb

phrase.

4. Simple verbs are NEVER found in a

prepositional phrase.

VERBS: 5. There are two types of Action verbs.

Intransitive verbs do NOT have an

object.

Transitive verbs transfer the action to

an object.

6. Linking verbs take complements in

their predicates.

OBJECTS:TRANSITIVE VERBS TAKE OBJECTS IN THEIR PREDICATES.

Objects are always nouns or pronouns.

The object is the person or thing affected by the ACTION described in the verb.

There are two types: Direct objects and Indirect objects

DIRECT OBJECTS: A direct object can be a noun or a

pronoun. If it is a pronoun, it is in the objective case.

It is a thing/item that receives the action from the verb.

It is located after an action verb. It answers the question What?

Ben opened the door. Miranda bought a dress.

DIRECT OBJECTS: Subject Action Verb Direct Object

1. Find the subject of the sentence.

Ask yourself "who" or "what" the sentence is about.

2. Remember: only action verbs have an object.

Identify the action. 3. What thing/item receives this

action?You've found the direct object.

DIRECT OBJECTS: Mississippi beat Auburn.

Veruannika played the violin.

INDIRECT OBJECTS: An Indirect Object can be a noun or a

pronoun. If it is a pronoun, it is in the objective case.

It is the person who receives the thing/item.

It is located after an action verb but before direct object.

It answers the question: To whom/what? or For whom/what?

Calvin presented Hobbs a trinket. Luke gave Seth an assist.

INDIRECT OBJECTS:

Subject Action Verb Direct Object

Indirect Object

1. Find the subject of the sentence.Who or what is the sentence about?

2. Identify the action verb.What is the action?

3. What thing/item receives this action?You've found the direct object.

4. The item is intended for whom/what?You've found the indirect object.

INDIRECT OBJECTS: The class sang Susan “Happy Birthday.”

Hutson handed Chubb the football.

COMPLEMENTS: LINKING VERBS TAKE COMPLEMENTS IN THEIR PREDICATES. A complement always refers back to the

subject.

A complement always comes after a

linking verb.

There are two types of complements:

Predicate nominatives and

Predicate adjectives

PREDICATE NOMINATIVES: A predicate nominative is a noun or a

pronoun found in the predicate. If it is a pronoun, then it is in the nominative case.

It is located after a linking verb. It identifies/renames/refers back to the

subject. It answers the question Who? Or

What?

Mr. Niswonger is a teacher. Kendra is a cheerleader.

PREDICATE NOMINATIVES:

Subject Linking Verb Predicate

Nominative

1. Find the subject of the sentence.

Who or what is the sentence about?

2. Identify the linking verb.

What word connects two ideas/things?

3. What person/place/thing refers back to

the subject?

You've found the predicate nominative.

PREDICATE NOMINATIVES: The Walking Dead is a television series.

The Scholars Academy is a rigorous school.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVES: A predicate adjective is an adjective that is

found in the predicate.

It is located after a linking verb.

It qualifies/describes/modifies the

subject of the sentence.

It answers the questions: Which one? What

kind? How many?

The THS Marching Band is phenomenal!

The Scholars Academy is rigorous.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVES:Subject Linking Verb Predicate

Adjective

1. Find the subject of the sentence.Who or what is the sentence about?

2. Identify the linking verb.What word connects two ideas/things?

3. What adjective qualifies the subject?You've found the predicate adjective.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVES: Sandra Bulloch seems so approachable.

The Bulldogs are tenacious.